Ultragrow 'laser hairbrush'

[Alexandra.]

Well now...I have been gifted an object that has been popping up in website side bars all over the place - an Ultrgrow laser hair follicle stimulator... And I am going to give it a go in a semi-scientific manner i.e will measure precisely before starting and be regular in use, follow the instructions etc!

I feel partly this product is a classic 'snake oil' item, mainly because of the way it is marketed , too many overtones of miraculous results and a celebrities secret. But maybe...

My fear is that it may actually do damage - the perennial hair obsessiveshorror! - It IS a pretty expensive item so I wouldn't have thought it be that common an experience...so I did a forum search on it to see if anyone else mentions it. No mentions.

So before I begin, has anyone else tried this item or know someone who has? I will give it a week or so to see any responses and also see what else I can find on the net that isn't a product placement planted review and then...

[Gamma Vector]

I've never heard of this thing before, but I'm anxious to hear about your results! Good luck!

[missrandie]

For SCIENCE!!!! Muahahahahahahahahaha!!

I had heard of these before, but like you say, they look like snake oil to me. Give it a shot though with an open mind.. we may all be surprised!

The premise behind them seems pretty sound, but we shall see if the laser is actually strong enough to do what we want it to. IIRC, it's a combo of the brushing action and the laser that stimulates your scalp, right?

[Alexandra.]

Apparently these things have been kicking about since the 90's but are usually big machines in salons.

So far : an article on a similar item which also reviews some other stuff from caffeine shampoos to drugs: it isn't impressed....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1375905/From-laser-comb-rubbing-coffee-head-His-Hers-guide-hair-loss-cures.html

A selection of Amazon customer reviews of a similar product: also mainly unimpressed....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/POWER-GROW-HAIR-LASER-TREATMENT/dp/B0027RF5EK

Also not impressed...!

http://menshair.about.com/od/baldingandthinninghair/fr/HairMax_Review.htm

Two positive reviews, one with a follow up....

http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=108735/HairMax-LaserComb/Unlisted-Brand/Misc-Beauty-Tools

Another brand 'completely ineffective'...

http://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/showthread.php/40696-Lasercomb-study/page2?highlight=Laser+brush

(So far veering towards selling it on eBay! ) don't know if the placebo effect includes hair growth!

So far I haven't found any 'all my hair fell out after use' stories. I am fine if it doesn't do anything positive as long as there's no negative. Looking more like snake oil though.

[maborosi]

There is SOME evidence in support of using lasers for helping hair growth, but not a lot.

It seems like all the studies are for people who suffer from hair loss. Here's an article from LA Times (http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/12/health/he-nuskeptic12)

But everything I've read suggests you won't see results that fast- around 6 months

[Alexandra.]

I got a white coat, that makes it science, neh?!

One positive: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24474647/?i=2&from=/19366270/related

Haven't actually read the instructions yet! But as I read various sites most similar brushe things dont seem to involve brushing as such - more of a slow held it then move it on every few seconds... I figured it might get results simply from increasing blood flow in the same way as scalp massage and inverting might give results.

[Arctic]

I'll be looking forward your updates! :popcorn:

How long an experiment you are planning? I feel a month or two might be good, oftentimes scalp stimulation methods take some time. You would also need to stay away from other hair experiments :)

[Alexandra.]

I guess I would have to give it a minimum of three months. I had a little 'incident' that involved getting too close to a bonfire over the weekend so am going to have to have a bit more of a trim than my usual micro's plus S&D...so I thought I would try and get some fun out of that trauma by measuring after the cut a doing this!

I would continue oiling the ends but not do anything scalp wise.

[Arctic]

Yes, sorry, I ofcourse meant hair growth stimulating experiments! Sounds like a good stretch of time! Sorry to hear you had an accident though, lets hope this brush would help your hair to grow fast!

[Chelle25]

I used to work in a clinic that used these low level lasers to treat hair loss. They are virtually harmless. We used the clinical hood units. I actually have one here at home that I use and yes they do make the hair grow faster.

Usually the brushes say to use for 15 mins. Use it every other day for 15 minutes and like the other poster said, give it 6 months to see results.

You can use this thing forever. It will not hurt you or your hair in any kind of way.

You can continue your regular hair routine. It will not effect anything.

Move the brush very slowly when using it.

What it does is stimulates blood flow to the hair follicles. This will bring oxygen and nutrients to the hair bulb. It keeps the hairs thicker and fuller and more manageable.

[Alexandra.]

Thank Chelle25, that's encouraging info....at the moment I am really wavering as to wether to do it or not! Veering towards the cowardly cowardly custard end of things so far!

[flickm]

The weird thing is i dreamed about one of those orgasmatron things last night (you know, lots of bulb ended wires that you push down and up on your scalp) and it was buckled and old and had been thrown away. I have actually seen those sited as hair growth accessories too, and they are probably as effective!

[zmirina]

There are now plenty of FDA cleared laser treatments/brushes/helmets on the market

I wonder if they actually work